What do you have to show that you lived, thought, worked, created, dreamed, and did stuff?
Holy cow—it’s February already!! Where did the New Year go? What happened to January? Is it just me or do you also feel like time is just zooming by? I have adopted a new saying: “Whether you do something or not during the day, time will still fly by.” So, what do I have to show for it? Sure, there is my daily calendar/schedule. I can look back and see what I did or did not accomplish. But in the end, it’s just a list of things that happened. No emotion. No details. No memories. That “being in the moment” just isn’t captured. And isn’t it the moments that are supposed to matter most?
When I was 15 years old, I read the biography of the leader of my church at the time, Spencer W. Kimball. The preface of his story began in 1951 when Kimball was suffering from heart trouble and thought he might die. Kimball had faithfully been keeping a personal journal – typing out his memories and putting them in identical black binders that filled his study shelves – for the past eight years. Of those journals, he wrote, “I might hope that my children will take from my many journals and write a simple story or biography for me. I would like my posterity to remember me and to know that I tried so very hard to measure up and live worthy.” The image of all those black binders on a shelf, containing thoughts, events, dreams, activities of a good man, inspired me to want to do the same for me and my posterity. So, I rode my bike down to the local art store and purchased my first black, archival quality paper, blank sketch book and began to write a journal. That started me on a habit of regular journal writing for almost 35 years. Today, I have 56 of those black book journals on my study book shelf. 
But in 2010, I started blogging and with it a new way to keep track of my thoughts and activities. While this has proven to be a worthwhile way to remember key events, I miss the consistent effort that writing a journal takes. Because with that consistency, came a more thorough record of how I was spending my days, what I thought about those days, and what mattered most to me at the time—things that only regular journal writing offers.
Since I first began, there has been a lot of research done on the value of keeping a regular journal. It has been noted that journal writing has many health benefits: 
The health benefits that are most important to me in midlife are stress relief and memory loss. Organizing ones’ thoughts in a journal can help facilitate problem-solving and therefore reduce the stress of negative thoughts and troubling situations. And because journal writing is a dynamic process, the brain gets excited with written material, strengthening its retention abilities.
What inspired me to start a journal – having a way for my children and grandchildren to really know who I am – has been lost somewhat. Sure, they have a reliable source in those old journals that chronicled my high school, college, newly and early marriage, child rearing years, but what about my midlife years? My empty nest years? My grandparenting years? Aren’t these experiences and thoughts just as valuable to me and my posterity? Of course they are!!
How to get journal on a regular basis can be tricky. Some suggestions include: 
Just like anything else, journal writing will not get done unless you schedule it. Having a separate journal book keeps your memories in a designated place for you or your family to find. It’s important to spend a few minutes thinking about your day or week first so that you stay focused on what matters most. And if you have a hard time getting started, begin with writing a sentence or two on what was the most important thought or action of your day.
Do you have a journal book? I want to make it easy for you to get started with your journal writing – by giving away a journal to 2 lucky winners. 
To enter, just comment below which health reason above inspires you to write a journal by midnight, February 10th. I will announce the winners using Random.org Number Generator on February 12th- Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (he was a pretty good journal writer himself!!) Good luck!!
Your living an amazing midlife chapter. Don’t let the moments fade away. Write it down in a journal for yourself and for your those who mean the most to you.
I have admired those who keep journals, my daughter being one of them. The practice of reflection is one that is good for the mind and the heart. This is why I would start a journal.
I have a daughter who journals too. She learned from me but I’m afraid she is the better example now. Reflection is the perfect reason. Good luck!!
My heart condition would be a good reason to journal. I have said for years I would start on but have always put it off cause everytime I tried to find a book to write in it didn’t seem to suit the need.
I read the directions wrong sorry . The health reason from above that I think a journal would be good for is Reduce the stress of negative thoughts which goes along with my heart condition and what I am dealing with right now.
A great way to help you with your heart issues indeed!! Good luck!!
My daughter had a journal when she was a teen. I never journaled so maybe time to start.
Now is the perfect time to start!! Good luck!!
I always had a diary and now a journal. I especially like to write when I’m upset or troubled. It’s a great way to “talk” things out. I like to read what I just wrote and put things in perspective!
Journals are the perfect way “to talk things out”!! Good luck!!
I love reading journals of famous people were I can mostly get a lot of inspiration in life. I am having goosebumps whenever I am in their world of the past and discover things and secrets not everyone knows. You can never go back from the past but you can always read back and reminisce all the unforgettable things that make you who you are now. Having our own journal was a great idea and I already start doing it, 3 years ago.
Nice!! Your posterity will be getting inspiration from you one day!! Good Luck!!
I love journaling. It helps me get out my stress without being judged. I suffer from anxiety so journaling is a perfect way for me to write out what made me anxious and some things I can do to help the next time. Thank you for the contest too! Good luck everyone
Relieving stress and anxiety is a great reason to journal. Good luck to you too!!
I love the cover of the C.S. Lewis book. Journaling seems very therapeutic. I might get into it one of these days.
If you win you will have to!! Good luck!!
I love blogging but I still prefer to journal the old fashioned way. I didn’t realize there were health benefits to it, that’s a plus.
I need to figure out how to do both. Time is an issue for me. Good luck!!
I always loved the idea of journaling, but find it very hard to get into my every day plans. So interesting to learn about the health benefits.
Same with me!! Good luck!!
I always say I want to keep a journal but never do. I like the idea of you setting a certain time of the day to write.
Like everything else worthwhile, you have to schedule!! Good luck!!
I used to write a journal but lost track somewhere along the line. Would love to pick it up again as it was a great place to put everything down and it really de-stressed me!
It is always uplifting to resume an old habit!! Good luck!!
Scheduling the time to journal is smart. It really is something that is important but can easily slip by the wayside if you don’t dedicate yourself to doing it.
Scheduling can help you succeed!! Good luck!!
Writing a journal helps me to relax and clear my thoughts. By my problem is consistency. I really need to do it on a regular basis.
Calendaring it with everything else might help. Good luck!!
I used to have a journal, but now I just stick with my blog. I find I can type much faster than I can write and prefer to do so.
I am the same way. But journaling is more reflective, I think. Good luck!!
I used to have a journal a long time ago. But because of time and life, my hobby was lost somewhere. Now my blog is my journal and I do feel stress is relieved when I write.
I hope you can return to your journal hobby. Good luck!!
What a fantastic thing to do! Those words will be treasured by your family long after you are gone too, and they’re a snapshot of history. Fantastic! My blog acts as a journal for me, something for my family to look back on.
The more your family has to look back on, the better they will know you. Good luck!!
I used to have a journal when I was teen, I stopped because of the busy schedule of college life. Reading your post, gave me an idea to try to have a journal again.
I hope you start it up again. Good luck.
I use to write in a journal when I was younger. I need to start doing that again. It’s nice to read back years later and remember all the great times you had.
Remembering the past is a great benefit!! Good luck!!
My sister would have a journal while she’s having a blog. I will share this to her, Glad you share this with us
Journals + blogging=a great life record. Good luck!!
I love having a journal during my teen days but when I’m in college and go to work have a tight schedule and doesn’t have a time.
If you set aside time, it will get done!! Good luck!!
I think it’s a great idea to keep a journal. It’s therapeutic and it helps you keep a positive mindset. At least, that’s how it affects me.
Therapeutic and a positive mindset are great benefits!! Good luck!!
I’m all about journals!!! Journals and list help me map out my life. I get to see my thoughts and figure things out!
Hip Hip Hooray for journal writing!! Good luck!!
I am also a midlife woman and don’t keep a handwritten journal. I do however have a digital one, I am so used to technology that I am forgetting how to write! My daughter is a Sophomore in college and she cannot be with her handwritten journal!
I’ve read that handwriting a journal is more reflective. That’s interesting that you have switched to digital. Good luck!!
I believe journal writing is so important. You can learn so much about yourself through this. it is great therapy.
Journal writing is important!! Good luck!!
I love keeping and writing journals. It always keep me on track and reminds me of things I am thankful for.
Gratitude journals are another way to remember your blessings. Good luck!!
I like writing about my thoughts and my feelings in journals because it’s like therapy for me. It allows me to have an outlet without lashing out on people or something like that.
Journals are a much safer way to confront feelings. Good luck!!
I am learning the bullet journal and so far I’m loving it. hope I can keep up until end of the year.
I’ve adapted the bullet journal to my daily calendaring. Very cool. Good luck!!
Beautiful and encouraging post! I’ve been interested in learning more about bullet journaling. Are you familiar with that? Any thoughts?
I’ve researched bullet journaling and love the concept. I’ve adapted it to my calendar as my handwriting is so bad, I couldn’t depend on all the freehanding of a bullet journal. It has become a nice and workable compromise. Good luck.
I kept a regular journal even when I had my four children. I even kept journals for them. I definitely started slowing down and not keeping up with it like I would have liked to after my fourth child. I have tried to go back and write about the bigger events that have happened. I want to get back into it and try and keep my mental health strong.
You are a good mom to journal for your kids too. Good luck!!
In a time of so much discontent, writing down my frustrations seems like a much safer way to vent. Too many people feel free to write whatever they want at the expense of others feelings. I think writing your stresses in a journal would be more satisfying and far safer, haha.
It is far safer!! Good luck!!
Journaling really does it. It allows you to write down your thoughts and look back on them on a later date.
Looking back and seeing growth is a great benefit. Good luck!!
Thats a great idea! Putting your thoughts on paper always helps us see the big picture too.
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
Wow ,i wish the best in all.
Great information that you have shared here putting your thoughts on paper is the best in all.
It’s too far safer, wish you the best.
I always say I want to keep a journal but never do. I like the idea of you setting a certain time of the day to write.